Petersburg at the end of the 19th century was embraced by a massive enthusiasm for the occult sciences and esotericism. British medium Olivia Reed arrives in the capital of the Russian Empire on tour and gathers crowds of people at her public spiritualistic sessions. At this time, a series of ritual mysterious murders takes place in the city. Girls are abducted on the streets, their mutilated bodies are found in various parts of the city. The investigation is carried out by a young police officer Rostov and his assistant Ganin. With each new victim, things are becoming more confused. Suspicion leads Rostov to Olivia, and he decides to turn to her in the hope that her genuine or imaginary ability to summon the spirits of the dead can help to get on the trail of the killer.

An English correspondent arrives in Astana to interview the named Leader of the Nation Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev is hosting an English guest. The interview turns into Nazarbayev's story about life, fate and the difficult path of gaining independence. The President introduces the writer to local customs, at the same time telling about the most difficult periods of his life, from his appointment in 1984 as chairman of the Council of Ministers to becoming President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1991.

A band of determined Russian soldiers fight to hold a strategic building in their devastated city against a ruthless German army, and in the process become deeply connected to a Russian woman who has been living there.